Kickoff Session

Kickoff Session

HOW IT WORKS

You are in charge of your learning in this program. We have identified the 10 activities for you to do over the course of the program, but you decide when you do them.  Camp counselors will be available to help as needed or via Open Lab times at Highview (Wednesdays from 12-2).   You document your progress through updating your blog, which is Activity 1.

Each activity will be posted on this blog.  There will be a brief explanation of your new category/tool and a description of a few options.  Choose one of the tools to try, then create a blog post linking your project/product with a short reflection on the process and how you might use the tool in your classroom.

Your blog will be linked to the class blog so the other nerds can follow your progress and learn from your nerdy ideas.  You will need to follow at least five of your fellow nerds' blogs.  You will also be responsible for posting one comments on three other nerds' blogs for each activity.

Activity 10 requires one face-to-face meeting on either August 12th from 12:00-2:00pm or August 18th from 12:00-2:00 at Highview. Check your calendars to see which of these you can attend.  We will be sending out a Google Form early next week so you can select the one that will work best for you.  If you are unable to attend either of these sessions, let your camp counselor know through this Form for an alternate plan.

As you are completing activities, try to do so while continually thinking about using these resources in your classes.  If you are asked to create something, try to create something that you will actually be able to use next year instead of a practice assignment that can only be used for this class.

SETTING UP YOUR BLOG

Here are directions for creating your own blog using Blogger, which is tied to your Google and MV Gmail account.

1.  Log in to Google.  Most people log into their MV Gmail account which is one way to log into Google.

2.  Open a new tab and type www.blogger.com.  This will get you to your blogger account.

3. Click on the orange Continue to Blogger button (If you have ever create a blog before, you won't see this screen)

4.  Create your blog by clicking the New Blog button.  Give it a title: First and Last Name + Tech Camp Blog (ex. Ryan Monson's Tech Camp Blog) and a web address also including your First and Last Name and tech camp (ex. ryanmonsontechcamp.blogspot.com).

5. Pick a template, preferably one with a main column and a side column (you can browse many more templates and customize your blog later).

6.  Follow our blog.  Click on the Big B on the top left of the screen to get back to your blogger home page.  Under Reading List, click on Add.  Copy and paste in this URL: http://technerdcamp.blogspot.com/.  Now we can follow each other!

7.  Click on the view blog button.  The name of your blog is in the address bar.  Copy that blog address using "Ctrl C" and fill out this Google Form to add your blog to the list

8.  Create your first post.  When you create a blog post Always identify the activity number so other campers can quickly tell what your post is about.  For this post call the post Kickoff: ...

Be sure to include the following:

• What motivated you to become a tech nerd this summer?
• What you hope to learn about in Tech Nerd Camp 2.0?
• How would you describe your current comfort level with technology?  What tools do you use already in your classroom (if any)?